The Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) was inaugurated in June 2002, in Cha-am, Thailand. ACD is the first continent-wide forum established for Asia and is designed to consolidate Asia's strengths and fortify its competitiveness with the rest of the world through maximization of its rich diversity and resources. ACD has identified 19 priority areas for cooperation: energy, poverty alleviation, agriculture, transport linkages, biotechnology, e-Commerce, infrastructure fund, e-education, Asian Institute of Standards, SMEs, IT development, science and technology, tourism, finance, human resource development, environmental education, strengthen legal Infrastructure, road Safety, and natural disaster.